Pistols, patridges and a remarkable widow

Published:08:54Sunday 27 May 2012

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FROM the 1817 pages of the Lewes Journal:

l Last Thursday, Mr Watts, ridng officer of Rottingdean, was killed by the accidental discharge of his pistol, whilst rapping its flint in a blacksmith’s shop in consequence of having previously found it defective, in snapping the pistol at some smugglers he was in pursuit of.

l On last Sunday night an unfortunate man named William Ansell received his death blow by running against a post at Cliffe Corner [Lewes] which caused the rupture of a blood vessel.

* Partridges are numerous and strong upon the wing; and our Downs and Weald abound with hares.

l There is now living in the parish of Westham, a widow woman named Gasson who owns a little farm on which she keeps eight cows and actually milks them herself every morning, though upwards of ninety years of age.